Printing apparatus having direct wireless communication function, control method for printing apparatus, and storage medium

ABSTRACT

When a print processing apparatus is connected to a printing apparatus, use of Wi-Fi Direct is prohibited. On the other hand, when the print processing apparatus is not connected to the printing apparatus, the use of Wi-Fi Direct is permitted.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 14/806,382 filed on Jul. 22, 2015 which claims thebenefit of Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-151203, filed Jul. 24,2014, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus having a directwireless communication function, a control method for a printingapparatus, and a storage medium.

Description of the Related Art

Among printing apparatuses such as multifunction peripherals, printersand the like, an increasing number of printing apparatuses now havewireless LAN functions. The printing apparatus having a wireless LANfunction receives print data from an external apparatus such as apersonal computer (PC), a mobile terminal or the like via an accesspoint, and executes print processing based on the received print data.

Further, there exists, among the printing apparatuses, a printingapparatus which performs direct wireless communication with an externalapparatus without going through an access point. Japanese PatentApplication Laid-Open No. 2013-205982 discusses a printing apparatusthat performs, with a mobile terminal, direct wireless communicationusing Wi-Fi Direct or Bluetooth (registered trademark).

Meanwhile, as a mode of using a printing apparatus, there is known aconfiguration in which a print processing apparatus is connected to aprinting apparatus, as discussed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2002-312140. The print processing apparatus can interpreta page description language not supported by the printing apparatusitself. Print data interpreted by the print processing apparatus isconverted into a form supported by the printing apparatus and thentransmitted to the printing apparatus. Therefore, the printing apparatuscan receive from the print processing apparatus print data in aninterpretable form even if the print data is originally described in apage description language not supported by the printing apparatus.

Assume that, in the configuration in which the print processingapparatus is connected to the printing apparatus, a mobile terminalexecutes direct wireless communication with the printing apparatuswithout going through the print processing apparatus, and therebytransmits print data to the printing apparatus. This print data istransmitted to the printing apparatus without going through the printprocessing apparatus. Therefore, the printing apparatus may receive theprint data described in a page description language not supported by theprinting apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to reduce inconvenience that occurswhen a printing apparatus receives print data described in a pagedescription language not supported by the printing apparatus, in aconfiguration in which a print processing apparatus is connected to theprinting apparatus.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a printing apparatushas a direct wireless communication function of executing directwireless communication between the printing apparatus and an externalapparatus without going through an access point, and the printingapparatus includes a printing unit configured to execute printprocessing, a determination unit configured to determine whether a printprocessing apparatus that processes print data is connected to theprinting apparatus, and a control unit configured to prohibit a userfrom using the direct wireless communication function, in a case wherethe determination unit determines that the print processing apparatus isconnected to the printing apparatus.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a printingapparatus includes a wireless communication unit configured to executewireless communication between the printing apparatus and an externalapparatus, a printing unit configured to execute print processing basedon print data, a determination unit configured to determine whether aprint processing apparatus that processes print data is connected to theprinting apparatus, and a control unit configured to prohibit theprinting apparatus from executing the wireless communication with theexternal apparatus performed without going through the print processingapparatus, in a case where the determination unit determines that theprint processing apparatus is connected to the printing apparatus.

According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a printingapparatus includes a wireless communication unit configured to executewireless communication between the printing apparatus and an externalapparatus, a printing unit configured to execute print processing basedon print data, a connection unit configured to connect a printprocessing apparatus that processes print data to the printingapparatus, and a transfer unit configured to transfer print data, whichis received by using the wireless communication without going throughthe print processing apparatus, to the print processing apparatus.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A and 1B are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of aprint system.

FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams each illustrating a configuration of aprinting apparatus.

FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D are diagrams each illustrating an operationscreen displayed by an operation unit.

FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams each illustrating an operation screendisplayed by the operation unit.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating processing to be executed by theprinting apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating processing to be executed by theprinting apparatus.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below,with reference to the attached drawings. The following exemplaryembodiments are not intended to limit the invention according to thescope of claims, and any combination of features described in theexemplary embodiments is not necessarily essential to a solution of theinvention.

First, configurations of a print system according to a first exemplaryembodiment of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1A and1B. FIG. 1A illustrates a configuration of using a printing apparatus100 alone. FIG. 1B illustrates a configuration of using the printingapparatus 100 with a print processing apparatus 140 being connected tothe printing apparatus 100.

First, a configuration in which the printing apparatus 100 is used alonewill be described using FIG. 1A. The printing apparatus 100 is connectedto a network 120, and can communicate with an external apparatus such asa personal computer (PC) 110 or the like via the network 120. The PC 110transmits print data to the printing apparatus 100 via the network 120.The printing apparatus 100 receives the print data transmitted by the PC110, interprets the received print data, and then executes printprocessing.

The printing apparatus 100 has a direct wireless communication functionwhich enables the printing apparatus 100 to execute direct wirelesscommunication with the external apparatus without going through arelaying equipment such as an access point. Wi-Fi Direct and Bluetooth(registered trademark) are conceivable specific examples of thiswireless communication. The printing apparatus 100 will be describedbelow as an apparatus that executes Wi-Fi Direct. Wi-Fi Direct is usedin the description only as an example, and the wireless communication towhich the present exemplary embodiment is applicable is not limited toWi-Fi Direct.

The printing apparatus 100 can execute the direct wireless communicationwith a mobile terminal 130, by using Wi-Fi Direct. The mobile terminal130 can transmit print data to the printing apparatus 100 via Wi-FiDirect. The printing apparatus 100, which has received the print datatransmitted via Wi-Fi Direct, interprets the received print data, andthen executes the print processing.

Next, a configuration in which the printing apparatus 100 is used withthe print processing apparatus 140 being connected to the printingapparatus 100 will be described using FIG. 1B. The printing apparatus100 and the print processing apparatus 140 are connected to each otherby a local area network (LAN) cable. The print processing apparatus 140,which has received print data transmitted from an external apparatussuch as the PC 110 or the like, interprets this print data. The printprocessing apparatus 140 converts the interpreted print data into a formsupported by the printing apparatus 100, and then transmits theconverted print data to the printing apparatus 100. The printingapparatus 100 receives the print data transmitted from the printprocessing apparatus 140 and then executes the print processing based onthe received print data.

The print processing apparatus 140 can interpret print data described ina page description language not supported by the printing apparatus 100.The print processing apparatus 140 converts the interpreted print datainto a form supported by the printing apparatus 100, and then transmitsthe converted print data to the printing apparatus 100. Therefore, theprinting apparatus 100 can receive, from the print processing apparatus140, print data in an interpretable form even if the print data isoriginally described in a page description language not supported by theprinting apparatus 100.

Assume that wireless communication using Wi-Fi Direct is executedbetween the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 130 in theconfiguration in which the printing apparatus 100 is used with the printprocessing apparatus 140 being connected to the printing apparatus 100,as illustrated in FIG. 1B. When wireless communication using Wi-FiDirect is executed, the mobile terminal 130 can transmit print data tothe printing apparatus 100 without going through the print processingapparatus 140. The printing apparatus 100 thereby receives from themobile terminal 130 the print data not passed through the printprocessing apparatus 140, which leads to a situation in which theprinting apparatus 100 becomes increasingly likely to receive the printdata described in a page description language not supported by theprinting apparatus 100.

Therefore, in the first exemplary embodiment, when the printingapparatus 100 is used with the print processing apparatus 140 beingconnected to the printing apparatus 100, execution of the directwireless communication such as the one using Wi-Fi Direct with anexternal apparatus is prohibited. In other words, a user is prohibitedfrom using the direct wireless communication function. Therefore, themobile terminal 130 transmits print data via the print processingapparatus 140, so that the printing apparatus 100 can be less likely toreceive print data described in a page description language notsupported by the printing apparatus 100.

Next, a configuration of the printing apparatus 100 will be describedusing FIG. 2A. The printing apparatus 100 of the first exemplaryembodiment is assumed to be a multifunction peripheral, but may be aprinter not having a scanning function.

A central processing unit (CPU) 201 reads a control program stored in aread only memory (ROM) 202, and executes various types of processing forcontrolling operations of the printing apparatus 100, based on the readcontrol program. The ROM 202 stores the control program. A random accessmemory (RAM) 203 is used as an area for temporarily storing a mainmemory, a work area or the like of the CPU 201. A hard disk device (HDD)204 stores various types of data such as print data, scanned images orthe like.

In the printing apparatus 100, the CPU 201, i.e., a single CPU, isassumed to execute each process in each flowchart described below.However, other mode is adoptable. For example, one or more CPUs mayexecute each process in each flowchart described below, by workingtogether.

A printer 205 executes the print processing on a sheet, based on printdata received from an external apparatus, a scanned image generated by ascanner 206, or the like. The scanner 206 reads a document and generatesa scanned image (read image data). The scanned image generated by thescanner 206 is printed by the printer 205 and/or stored in the HDD 204.

An operation unit 207 includes a liquid crystal display section having atouch panel function, and a keyboard, and displays various screensdescribed below. The user can input instructions and information intothe printing apparatus 100 via the operation unit 207.

A wireless communication unit 208 executes the wireless communicationwith an external apparatus such as the mobile terminal 130 or the like,based on Wi-Fi Direct.

A network interface (I/F) 209 connects to the network 120, to executecommunication with an external apparatus. FIG. 2A illustrates theconfiguration in which the printing apparatus 100 is used alone withoutbeing connected to the print processing apparatus 140. When the printingapparatus 100 is used with the print processing apparatus 140 beingconnected thereto, the printing apparatus 100 and the print processingapparatus 140 are connected by the LAN cable as illustrated in FIG. 2B.

Next, an operation procedure to be followed when the user uses Wi-FiDirect, and operation screens to be displayed by the operation unit 207will be described using FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. FIG. 3A illustrates amenu screen 300 displayed by the operation unit 207. The menu screen 300displays various selectable functions that can be used by the user. Whenthe user selects (touches in a case of a touch panel) a button 301, theoperation unit 207 displays a copy screen (not illustrated) for enablingthe user to use a copy function. When the user selects a button 302, theoperation unit 207 displays a Send screen (not illustrated) for enablingthe user to use a Send function. When the user selects a button 304, theoperation unit 207 displays a setting screen (not illustrated) forenabling the user to perform various types of settings such as papersetting, network setting or the like.

To use Wi-Fi Direct, the user selects a button 303 in the menu screen300. When the user selects the button 303, the operation unit 207displays a connection screen 310 illustrated in FIG. 3B. The connectionscreen 310 displays a connection start button 311 provided to enable theuser to start connection processing for wireless communication based onWi-Fi Direct.

When the user selects the connection start button 311 in the connectionscreen 310, the operation unit 207 displays a connection screen 320illustrated in FIG. 3C. The wireless communication unit 208 then startsthe connection processing for the wireless communication based on Wi-FiDirect. More specifically, the wireless communication unit 208 searchesfor a connection partner. In the first exemplary embodiment, the mobileterminal 130 similarly starts connection processing for wirelesscommunication based on Wi-Fi Direct in response to user operationserving as a trigger, so that the wireless communication unit 208identifies the mobile terminal 130 as the connection partner. A button321 is provided to be selected by the user to stop use of Wi-Fi Direct.

When the wireless communication unit 208 identifies the mobile terminal130 as a connection partner, wireless communication based on Wi-FiDirect is established between the wireless communication unit 208 andthe mobile terminal 130. Thus, the printing apparatus 100 and the mobileterminal 130 can execute direct wireless communication without goingthrough a relaying equipment such as an access point or the like, sothat the mobile terminal 130 can directly transmit print data to theprinting apparatus 100. When the wireless communication based on Wi-FiDirect is established between the printing apparatus 100 and the mobileterminal 130, the operation unit 207 displays a connection screen 330illustrated in FIG. 3D.

The operation procedure when Wi-Fi Direct is used has been describedabove using FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, and 3D. Meanwhile, the use of Wi-Fi Directis prohibited when the printing apparatus 100 is used with the printprocessing apparatus 140 being connected thereto, as illustrated in FIG.1B. How the use of Wi-Fi Direct is prohibited will be described usingFIGS. 4A and 4B.

When the user selects the button 303 in the menu screen 300 in theconfiguration in which the print processing apparatus 140 is connectedto the printing apparatus 100, the operation unit 207 displays aconnection screen 400 illustrated in FIG. 4A. Unlike the connectionscreen 310 in FIG. 3B, the connection screen 400 is displayed in adisabled state in which selection of a connection start button 401 bythe user is not accepted. The connection start button 401 in theconnection screen 400 is grayed out to indicate the disabled state. Theconnection start button 401 gives no reaction even if the user selectsthe connection start button 401. The use of Wi-Fi Direct is prohibitedin this way.

The way of prohibiting the use of Wi-Fi Direct is not limited to the waydescribed above with reference to the connection screen 400, and otherway may be adopted. For example, a message 411 illustrated in aconnection screen 410 in FIG. 4B may be displayed in response to a pressof the connection start button 311 in the connection screen 310.Alternatively, the use of Wi-Fi Direct by the user may be prohibited, byperforming control so that the button 303 is not selectable by the user(e.g., by displaying the button 303 in a grayed-out state) in the menuscreen 300.

In the above description, the use of Wi-Fi Direct is prohibited when theprint processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printing apparatus100. However, printing through use of the mobile terminal 130 is notcompletely disabled. Printing through the use of the mobile terminal 130can be executed, when the mobile terminal 130 transmits print data tothe print processing apparatus 140 via Wi-Fi without using Wi-Fi Direct.

As described above, the direct wireless communication between theprinting apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 130 is prohibited, oncondition that the print processing apparatus 140 is connected to theprinting apparatus 100. Therefore, the printing apparatus 100 can beless likely to receive print data described in a page descriptionlanguage not supported by the printing apparatus 100, in theconfiguration in which the print processing apparatus 140 is connectedto the printing apparatus 100.

Next, processing to be executed when a screen transition occurs will bedescribed using a flowchart of FIG. 5. The CPU 201 reads a controlprogram stored in a memory such as the ROM 202 or the like, and loadsthe read control program in the RAM 203 for its execution to therebyperform each step in the flowchart of FIG. 5.

When a screen transition caused by a user operation occurs, then in stepS501, the CPU 201 determines whether a screen to be displayed next is aconnection screen for Wi-Fi Direct to appear for use of Wi-Fi Direct bythe user. When the CPU 201 determines that the screen to be displayednext is not the connection screen for Wi-Fi Direct (No in step S501),the processing proceeds to step S505. In step S505, the CPU 201 controlsthe operation unit 207 so that the operation unit 207 displays a screenaccording to the screen transition. The operation unit 207 thus displaysthe screen according to the screen transition. On the other hand, whenthe CPU 201 determines that the screen to be displayed next is theconnection screen for Wi-Fi Direct (Yes in step S501), the processingproceeds to step S502.

In step S502, the CPU 201 determines whether the print processingapparatus 140 is connected. In the first exemplary embodiment, in a casewhere the print processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printingapparatus 100, identification information of the print processingapparatus 140 is stored in a storage area such as the HDD 204 or thelike. In step S502, the CPU 201 checks presence/absence of thisidentification information of the print processing apparatus 140 tothereby determine whether the print processing apparatus 140 isconnected to the printing apparatus 100. The way of determining whetherthe print processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printingapparatus 100 is not limited to the way described with reference to stepS502, and other way may be adopted. For example, an inquiry packetinquiring whether the print processing apparatus 140 is connected to theprinting apparatus 100 may be transmitted via the network I/F 209, andwhether the print processing apparatus 140 is connected may bedetermined based on presence/absence of a response to the inquirypacket.

When the CPU 201 determines that the print processing apparatus 140 isnot connected to the printing apparatus 100 (No in step S502), theprocessing proceeds to step S503. In step S503, the CPU 201 controls theoperation unit 207, so that the operation unit 207 displays theconnection screen for Wi-Fi Direct, in a state where Wi-Fi Direct can beselected for use. For example, the operation unit 207 displays theconnection screen in a state where a connection start button forenabling a user to use Wi-Fi Direct is selectable, as with theconnection screen 310 illustrated in FIG. 3B. In other words, when theprint processing apparatus 140 is not connected to the printingapparatus 100, the user is permitted to use Wi-Fi Direct.

On the other hand, when the CPU 201 determines that the print processingapparatus 140 is connected to the printing apparatus 100 (Yes in stepS502), the processing proceeds to step S504. In step S504, the CPU 201controls the operation unit 207, so that the operation unit 207 displaysthe connection screen for Wi-Fi Direct, in a state where Wi-Fi Directcannot be selected for use. For example, the operation unit 207 displaysthe connection screen in a state where the user cannot select aconnection start button for using Wi-Fi Direct, as with the connectionscreen 400 in FIG. 4A. Alternatively, a message saying that Wi-Fi Directcannot be used may be displayed when a connection start button isselected by the user, as described with reference to the connectionscreen 410 illustrated in FIG. 4B. Thus, the user is prohibited fromusing Wi-Fi Direct when the print processing apparatus 140 is connectedto the printing apparatus 100.

As described above, according to the first exemplary embodiment, it isdetermined whether to prohibit the user from using the wirelesscommunication such as the one using Wi-Fi Direct, depending on whetherthe print processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printingapparatus 100.

When the print processing apparatus 140 is not connected to the printingapparatus 100, the user is permitted to use the wireless communicationsuch as the one using Wi-Fi Direct. In other words, the printingapparatus 100 is permitted to receive print data by using the wirelesscommunication such as the one using Wi-Fi Direct, on condition that theprint processing apparatus 140 is not connected to the printingapparatus 100.

On the other hand, the user is prohibited from using the wirelesscommunication such as Wi-Fi Direct, when the print processing apparatus140 is connected to the printing apparatus 100. In other words, theprinting apparatus 100 is prohibited from receiving print data by usingthe wireless communication such as Wi-Fi Direct, on condition that theprint processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printing apparatus100.

When the print processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printingapparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100 can prevent the user fromdirectly transmitting, using the wireless communication such as the oneusing Wi-Fi Direct, print data to the printing apparatus 100. Therefore,the printing apparatus 100 can be less likely to receive print datadescribed in a page description language not supported by the printingapparatus 100.

A second exemplary embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed. A print system and a printing apparatus 100 of the secondexemplary embodiment have configurations similar to the configurationsdescribed with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B as well as FIGS. 2A and 2B.

In the second exemplary embodiment, unlike the first exemplaryembodiment, a user is permitted to use Wi-Fi Direct both in a case wherea print processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printing apparatus100 and a case where the print processing apparatus 140 is not connectedto the printing apparatus 100. When receiving print data by performingwireless communication using Wi-Fi Direct, the printing apparatus 100transfers the received print data to the print processing apparatus 140.Thus, even if a mobile terminal 130 directly transmits, via wirelesscommunication using Wi-Fi Direct, print data which is described in apage description language not supported by the printing apparatus 100,the printing apparatus 100 can have the print data processed by theprint processing apparatus 140. Therefore, the printing apparatus 100can be less likely to receive print data described in a page descriptionlanguage not supported by the printing apparatus 100, in a configurationin which the print processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printingapparatus 100.

Next, processing to be executed by the printing apparatus 100 of thesecond exemplary embodiment will be described using a flowchart of FIG.6. A CPU 201 reads a control program stored in a memory such as a ROM202 or the like, and loads the read control program in a RAM 203 forexecution to thereby perform each step in the flowchart of FIG. 6.

In step S601, the CPU 201 determines whether print data is received. Ina case where the CPU 201 determines that print data is received (Yes instep S601), the processing proceeds to step S602. On the other hand, ifno print data is received (No in step S601), the CPU 201 waits untilreceipt of print data.

Next, in step S602, the CPU 201 determines whether the print data isreceived by using Wi-Fi Direct. In a case where the print data isreceived by a wireless communication unit 208 by using Wi-Fi Direct, theCPU 201 determines that the print data is received by using Wi-Fi Direct(Yes in step S602), and the processing proceeds to step S603. On theother hand, in a case where the print data is received by a network I/F209, the CPU 201 determines that the print data is not received by usingWi-Fi Direct (No in step S602), and the processing proceeds to stepS605. In step S605, the CPU 201 controls a printer 205 so that theprinter 205 executes print processing based on the print data. Theprinter 205 thus executes the print processing.

Processing performed in Step S603 will be described. In step S603, theCPU 201 determines whether the print processing apparatus 140 isconnected to the printing apparatus 100. This determination is a processsimilar to the process in step S502 described with reference to FIG. 5,so the explanation thereof will not be given here.

When the CPU 201 determines that the print processing apparatus 140 isnot connected to the printing apparatus 100 (No in step S603), theprocessing proceeds to step S605. In step S605, the CPU 201 controls theprinter 205 so that the printer 205 executes the print processing basedon the print data. If the received print data is described in a pagedescription language not supported by the printing apparatus 100, theprocess in step S605 is terminated with an error.

On the other hand, when the CPU 201 determines that the print processingapparatus 140 is connected to the printing apparatus 100 (Yes in stepS603), the processing proceeds to step S604. In step S604, the CPU 201controls the network I/F 209 so that the network I/F 209 transfers thereceived print data to the print processing apparatus 140. The networkI/F 209 thus transfers the print data to the print processing apparatus140. The print processing apparatus 140, to which the print data hasbeen transferred, processes the transferred print data. Morespecifically, the print processing apparatus 140 converts the print datainto a form supported by the printing apparatus 100, and then transmitsthe converted print data to the printing apparatus 100. Here, thetransmitted print data is received by the network I/F 209, andtherefore, it is determined that the print data is not received by usingthe wireless communication using Wi-Fi Direct (No in step S602), andthen in step S605, the print processing is executed.

As described above, according to the second exemplary embodiment, whenthe print processing apparatus 140 is connected to the printingapparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100 transfers the print datareceived by using Wi-Fi Direct, to the print processing apparatus 140.The transferred print data is processed by the print processingapparatus 140, and then anew transmitted to the printing apparatus 100.Therefore, the printing apparatus 100 can be less likely to receiveprint data described in a page description language not supported by theprinting apparatus 100, in the configuration in which the printprocessing apparatus 140 is connected to the printing apparatus 100.

In the configuration described in the first exemplary embodiment,execution of the wireless communication using Wi-Fi Direct is prohibitedwithout exception, on condition that the print processing apparatus 140is connected to the printing apparatus 100. However, in a case where theprinting apparatus 100 transmits data (for example, a scanned imagegenerated by the scanner 206) to the mobile terminal 130 via thewireless communication using Wi-Fi Direct, the data is not necessarilytransmitted via the print processing apparatus 140. Therefore, in athird exemplary embodiment, when a print processing apparatus isconnected to a printing apparatus 100, the printing apparatus 100 may bepermitted to transmit data to a mobile terminal 130 via the wirelesscommunication using Wi-Fi Direct, while being prohibited from receivingprint data via the wireless communication using Wi-Fi Direct.

In each of the exemplary embodiments described above, the communicationusing Wi-Fi Direct is taken as an example of the wireless communicationto be executed between the printing apparatus 100 and the mobileterminal 130 without going through the print processing apparatus 140.However, each of the exemplary embodiments described above is applicableto a case of using other type of wireless communication. For example, ina configuration in which the printing apparatus 100 is directlyconnected to an access point, wireless communication may be likewiseexecuted between the printing apparatus 100 and the mobile terminal 130without going through the print processing apparatus 140. Each of theexemplary embodiments described above is applicable to such aconfiguration.

The present invention is also achievable by such processing that aprogram implementing one or more functions of any of the above-describedexemplary embodiments is supplied to a system or an apparatus via anetwork or a storage medium, and one or more processors in the system orthe apparatus read the program and then execute the read program.Moreover, the present invention is also achievable by a circuit (e.g.,an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)) that implements oneor more functions.

According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, it ispossible to reduce inconvenience that occurs when a printing apparatusreceives print data described in a page description language notsupported by the printing apparatus, in a configuration in which a printprocessing apparatus is connected to the printing apparatus.

Embodiment(s) of the present invention can also be realized by acomputer of a system or apparatus that reads out and executes computerexecutable instructions (e.g., one or more programs) recorded on astorage medium (which may also be referred to more fully as a‘non-transitory computer-readable storage medium’) to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s) and/orthat includes one or more circuits (e.g., application specificintegrated circuit (ASIC)) for performing the functions of one or moreof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method performed by thecomputer of the system or apparatus by, for example, reading out andexecuting the computer executable instructions from the storage mediumto perform the functions of one or more of the above-describedembodiment(s) and/or controlling the one or more circuits to perform thefunctions of one or more of the above-described embodiment(s). Thecomputer may comprise one or more processors (e.g., central processingunit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU)) and may include a network ofseparate computers or separate processors to read out and execute thecomputer executable instructions. The computer executable instructionsmay be provided to the computer, for example, from a network or thestorage medium. The storage medium may include, for example, one or moreof a hard disk, a random-access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM),a storage of distributed computing systems, an optical disk (such as acompact disc (CD), digital versatile disc (DVD), or Blu-ray Disc (BD)™),a flash memory device, a memory card, and the like.

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

What is claimed is:
 1. A printing apparatus having a direct printingfunction of executing print processing based on print data received froman external apparatus by Wi-Fi Direct, the printing apparatuscomprising: a network interface; a memory storing instructions; and aprocessor that executes the instructions to: determine whether a printprocessing apparatus that processes print data for the printingapparatus is connected to the network interface; prohibit the printingapparatus from executing the direct printing function in accordance withdetermination that the print processing apparatus is connected to thenetwork interface.
 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein, the processor permits the printing apparatus to execute thedirect printing function in accordance with determination that the printprocessing apparatus is not connected to the network interface.
 3. Amethod for controlling a printing apparatus having a network interfaceand a direct printing function of executing print processing based onprint data received from an external apparatus by Wi-Fi Direct, themethod comprising: determining whether a print processing apparatus thatprocesses print data for the printing apparatus is connected to thenetwork interface; prohibiting the printing apparatus from executing thedirect printing function in accordance with determination that the printprocessing apparatus is connected to the network interface.
 4. Anon-transitory computer readable storage medium that stores instructionsthat, when executed by one or more processors, executes a method forcontrolling a printing apparatus having a network interface and a directprinting function of executing print processing based on print datareceived from an external apparatus by Wi-Fi Direct, the methodcomprising: determining whether a print processing apparatus thatprocesses print data for the printing apparatus is connected to thenetwork interface; prohibiting the printing apparatus from executing thedirect printing function in accordance with determination that the printprocessing apparatus is connected to the network interface.